Archery bow



Sept. 21, 1965 P. B. GRABLE 3,207,146

ARCHERY Bow Filed Dec. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELE- ::1 :ET LE- ift-:E-E

P. B. GRABLE ARCHERY BOW sept. 21, 1965V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 15,1962 fraz/V06 United States Patent O 3,207,146 ARCHERY BOW Phillip B.Grable, 119 Washington St., Dimondale, Mich. Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser.No. 244,474 Claims. (Cl. 124-24) This invention relates to a take-apartarchery bow and more particularly to a take-apart bow having pivotallyadjustable limb portions that can be adjusted so as to selectively varythe draw weight of the bow.

Heretofore, an archer has had to use a different bow for each particulartype of shooting that he has planned to do. The reason for this has beenthat different draw weights are required in different archerysituations. For instance, while a bow having a specific draw weightwould be satisfactory for target competition, it would not besatisfactory for hunting purposes.

Inasmuch as the draw weight of a bow is a function of the configurationof the bow itself, it is readily apparent that the draw weight of asingle piece bow cannot be selectively varied so that one bow could beused for a variety of shooting situations.

The advent of the take-apart bow has provided an opportunity toalleviate this problem to a certain degree. In the take-apart bowdevices `of the prior art, sets of interchangeable limbs have beenprovided for use on a single handle member. Thus, lby owing several setsof limbs of varying draw weights, the owner of a take-apart bow canchange the draw weight of his bow by substituting a different set oflimbs therein.

' However, one of the bows of the prior known art have had the capacityof a single bow having variable draw weight so as to be a trulymulti-purpose archery bow. Even in the case of take-apart bows, aplurality of limb sets have been required to achieve the variable drawweight goal.

It is thus seen that a need has existed for a multi-purpose bow whichcan be selectively adjusted for hunting, distance or target shooting andthe like, as desired.

A further need has existed for an archery bow in which the configurationthereof can, in effect, be varied so as to selectively vary the drawweight of the bow, as desired.

Another need has existed for a bow in which variable draw weightadjustment capability can be achieved without the addition orsubstitution of ancillary parts thereto.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multi-purposebow in which the draw weight thereof can be selectively varied so as toadapt the bow for any type of archery activity desired.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the necessity for anarcher to own a different bow for each type of archery activity in whichhe participates.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an archery bow inwhich the draw weight thereof can be selectively varied solely byadjustments to the bow itself and not by addition or substitution ofancillary parts.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a take-apart archerybow having pivotally mounted limbs that can be pivotally adjusted so asto selectively change the draw weight of the bow.

Another object of this invention is to provide an archery bow havinggreat Versatility in use while maintaining simplicity and ruggedness ofconstruction.

`Other objects and advantages found in the construction of my inventionwill be apparent from a consideration of the following specification inconnection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation view of the take-apart bow showing inphantom line the representative positions to which the pivotallyconnected limbs can be moved.

3,207,146 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 ice FIGURE 2 is a front elevation viewof the take-apart bow illustrating the central handle portion and thelimb portions pivotally connected thereto.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged right side elevation view of the upper socketportion of the take-apart bow illustrating the interrelationship betweenthe central handle portion, the pivotally connected socket, and the limbmember.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front elevation view of the upper socket portionof the take-apart bow illustrating the mating relationship between theend portion of the handle member, the pivotally connected socket, andthe limb member.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged left side elevation view of the portion of thebow as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 6 is a rear perspective view of one of the socket membersillustrating the adjustment holes through the arms thereof and showingthe base of a limb mounted therein.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the upper end of the central handlemember illustrating the socket-receiving extension provided thereon andshowing the adjustment holes provided therethrough.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view illustrating the relative axial alignmentof the adjustment holes in the socket arms and handle extension,respectively, and showing thereabove in phantom line the respectiverelative positioning of the longitudinal axis of the limb when each setof adjustment holes is selectively placed in co-axial alignment.

General description In general, a take-apart archery bow is providedhaving two pivotally adjustable limbs mounted on a central handlemember. A limb receiving socket is pivotally mounted at each end of thehandle member and is adapted to recive the butt end of a limb.

As will be described hereinafter, each socket member is adapted topermit selective forward and rearward pivotal movement of the libswithin the draw plane of the takeapart bow. Lock means are provided inassociation with the handle member and the limb-receiving socket membersso as to permit selective locking of the limb members in any angularposition to which they may have been pivoted within the draw plane ofthe bow.

The limb-receiving socket members are easily detachable from the handleportion. Thus, the take-apart bow can be dismantled without thenecessity of removing the limbs from the socket members. This is adistinct advantage `over previous precision-type take-apart bows.Heretofore, repeated disassembly of the limb members from the socketportions has resulted in mis-alignment `of the limbs due to wearoccasioned by repeated wood to metal contact.

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the handle andsocket members are fabricated from aluminum metal. Thus, a take-apartbow is provided whereby metal to metal surfaces are employed at thejuncture Wear point between the handle and socket members. This resultsin a bow which retains its correct alignment even after repeatedassembly and disassembly.

S pecl' fic descr pti on As shown in FIGURE l, the take-apart bow 11consists of a central handle member 12, limb retaining socket members 13and 14 and pivotally connected to the ends of the handle member 12, andlimbs 1S and 16 mounted in and extending outwardly from the socketmembers 13 and 14, respectively. A string 17 completes the operativeassembly.

The central handle member 12 is fabricated from aluminum metal and isconfigured to provide an integrally formed grip portion 18 and a sightwindow 19.

As shown generally in the drawings and specifically in FIGURE 7, thecentral handle member 12 has an elongate configiration and is providedwith socket receiving extensions 20 at the ends thereof. A centrallylocated pivot pin receiving hole D is provided through each of thesocket receiving extensions 20 so as to receive a pivot pin 21therethrough. Three lock pin receiving holes A, B, C are providedthrough each socket receiving extension 20 and are radially positionedat equal distances from the centrally located pivot pin receiving holeD, as shown in FIGURE 7.

As shown in the perspective view of FIGURE 6, limb receiving sockets 13and 14 are provided which are adapted for mating engagement with thesocket receiving extensions 20 provided on the handle member 12. Eachsocket is fabricated from aluminum and is provided with slots 2 and 23at the ends thereof. The handle extension receiving slot 2 is defined`by arms 24 and 25. Co-axially aligned pivot pin holes D' and D" arecentrally provided through the arms 24 and 25, respectively. Lock pinreceiving holes A', B', C' and A", B", C are also provided through thearms 24 and 25, respectively. As shown in FIGURE 6, the lock pinreceiving holes A', B', C' and A", B", C are equidistantly and radiallypositioned about the pivot holes D' and D", respectively.

The lock pin receiving holes A', B' and C' are threaded so as toselectively and threadedly reiceive the lock pin 26. The lock pinreceiving holes A", B" and C" are countersunk so as to receive the headof the lock pin 26.

The limb receiving slot 23 is trasverse of the handle extensionreceiving slot 22 and is located at the opposite end of each respectivesocket. Limb retaining pin holes 27, suitably threaded, are provided inthe socket so that threaded limb retaining pin 28 can be utilized tolockably retain a limb which has been inserted into the limb receivingslot 23.

The limbs and 16 are fabricated from wood or plastic laminates and arewell known in the art. Retaining pin holes are provided through the baseof the limbs which, when the limbs are inserted into their respectivesockets, go into co-axial register with the limb retaining pin holes 27provided in the sockets. Thus, the limb retaining pins 28 can be used toselectively lock the limbs in their position in the socket members. Thisunique and structure for the mounting of the limbs permits the use ofwide, thin limbs of substantially constant thickness without the need ofa built-up butt portion at the point where the limb joins the socketmember. This reduces the cost, ease of fabrication, and time forfabrication of the limbs.

As shown generally in the drawings, the sockets 13 and 14 are pivotallyconnected to the handle extensions 20 by use of a pivot lock pin 21through the pivot pin holes D', D and D". The pivot pin hole D" insocket arm 25 is threaded so as to threadedly receive the threaded endof pivot pin 21. The pivot pin hole D' in socket arm 24 is countersunkso as to retainably receive the head of the pivot pin 21 therein. Thusassembled, each socket is connected to the handle member 12 and ispivotally movable about its respective pivot pin 21.

The sockets 13 and 14 with their respective limbs ixedly mounted thereincan be locked in any desired position in relation to the handle 12 byuse of a lock pin 21 inserted through the socket arms 24 and 25 and thehandle extension therebetween. This is accomplished by pivoting thesocket member until selected of the lock pin receiving holes A', A, A"-or B', B, B" or C', C, C" are in co-axial register or alignment. Onlyone of the sets of holes A', A, A" or B', B, B" or C', C, C" can be inco-axial alignment at one time. For instance, when the socket arm lockpin receiving holes A' and A" are coaxially aligned with the lock pinreceiving hole A in the handle extension20, the lock pin 26 is lockablyinsertable therethrough. In this position, the longitudinal axis of thelimb in relation to the handle portion is shown by phantom line A. Thisrelationship is shown schematically in FIGURE 8. (The holes shown bypartial hidden lines are the lock pin receiving holes B and C providedthrough the handle extension 20.)

If it is desired to tilt the longitudinal axis of the limb rearwardly,the lock pin 26 is removed from point A and the socket member is rotatedclockwise until the socket arm lock pin receiving holes B' and B" are incoaxial alignment or register with the handle extension lock pinreceiving hole B. The lock pin 26 is then inserted therethrough. Thelongitudinal axis of the limb is then in the position shown by phantomline B.

If it is desired to tilt the longitudinal axis of the limb forward, thelock pin 26 is removed and the socket member is rotated counterclockwiseuntil the socket arm lock pin receiving holes C' and C" are in co-axialalignment or register with the handle extension lock pin receiving holeC. The lock pin 26 is inserted therethrough and the longitudinal axis ofthe limb is then in the position shown by phantom line C.

For purposes of illustration, an upper socket member 13 has beenutilized. The lower socket member 14 would operate in the same basicmanner so that the upper and lower limbs could be adjusted equally, thusmaintaining the symmetry of the take-apart bow.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described ashaving three sets of lock pin holes, it is Within the scope of theinvention to use any number of such holes or an arcuate slot arrangementso as to provide any number of desired positions to which the limbscould be adjusted. In addition, any other method of pivotally adjustingthe limbs to any desired angular position in relation to the handle maybe utilized and is intended to be within the scope of this invention.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are right, front and left side Views, respectively,of the upper socket member 13 illustrating the mating use relationshipbetween the limbs, the socket members and the handle member. It iswithin the scope of the invention to make the limbs integral with thesocket members. In this manner, a limb member would be provided whichwas itself pivotally mountable on the handle member 12. However, adegree of interchangeability would be sacrificed if this were done.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide bifurcated armsat each end of the handle member which would matingly receive anextension provided on the sockets or limbs, thus reversing thestructural pivotal arrangement described herein. The basic operation ofthe bow would remain the same.

OPERATION In use, the take-apart bow 11 is assembled as shown in FIGURE1 and in the manner described heretofore. A take-apart bow is thusprovided in which the draw weight can be varied by pivotally adjustingthe limb thereof to any desired angular setting within the draw planethereof.

For instance, the draw weight of the bow can be decreased by adjustingthe limbs to the position shown by phantom line B in FIGURES 1 and 8. Onthe other hand, the draw weight can be increased by adjusting the limbsto the position shown by phantom line C.

Mechanically, this adjustment is accomplished by loosening the pivot pin21 and removing the lock pin 26 from the set of lock pin receiving holesthrough which it is positioned. The sockets 13 and 14 are then pivotallyadjusted until the desired set of lock pin receiving holes are inco-axially alignment. The lock pin 26 is then inserted therethrough andthe pivot pin 21 is tightened into its locked use position. The bow isthen ready for restringing and use.

The take-apart bow can easily be knocked down for storage purposes byremoving the pivot and lock pins and disengaging the sockets 13 and 14from the handle member 12. Thus, the limbs need not be removed from thesocket member each time the bow is taken apart. This keeps wear on thelimbs at a minimum and preserves the alignment of limbs.

It is thus seen that a highly versatile take-apart bow is provided whichcan be adapted for use in any type of archery activity by merelypivotally adjusting the limbs thereof so as to selectively vary the drawweight of the bow.

Angular adjustment of the bow limbs in relation to the handle member soas to vary the draw weight of the bow can be achieved by other meansthan by use of pivotal connectors. For instance, the butt end of thelimb can be adapted for simple attachment to the tapered end of astandard central handle member. The longitudinal axis of each limb inrelation to the longitudinal axis of the handle can then be varied asdesired by selectively inserting wedge blocks of various angular sizesbetween the side of the butt end of the limb and the side of the end ofthe handle member.

Various other modifications of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from the principle thereof. Each of the modifications is to beconsidered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless theseclaims by their language expressly provide otherwise.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, I claim thefollowing:

1. In a take-apart bow, the combination comprising:

(a) an elongate limb retaining handle member;

(b) limbs pivotally connected to the ends of said handle member; and

(c) lock means in association with said handle members and said limbs,said lock means adapted to selectively lock said limbs in desiredpivotal positions within the draw plane of the bow so as to selectivelyVary the draw weight of the bow.

2. In a take-apart bow, the combination comprising:

(a) an elongate limb retaining handle member having pivotally mountedlimb socket means provided at each end thereof;

(b) a limb member provided in each of said socket means, each of saidlimb members selectively movable rearward and forward in the draw planeof the bow in response to selective movement of said socket means; and

(c) lock means in association with said handle member and said socketmeans so as to selectively lock said limbs in desired pivotal positionswithin the draw plane of the bow as so to selectively vary the drawweight of the bow.

3. In a take-apart bow, the combination comprising:

(a) a central elongate limb retaining handle member;

(b) a limb-receiving socket member pivotally attached to each end ofsaid handle member, said socket member adapted for selective pivotalrearward and forward movement within the draw plane of the bow;

(c) a climb member fixedly attached to each of said socket members forselective rearward and forward movement within the draw plane of the bowin response to movement of said socket members; and

(d) lock means in association with said handle member and said socketmembers so as to selectively lock said socket members in desired pivotalpositions within the draw plane of the bow.

4. In a take-apart bow, the combination comprising:

(a) a central elongate limb retaining handle member,

said handle member provided with limb socket-receiving extensions ateach end thereof;

(b) limb-receiving socket members pivotally connected to said limbsocket-receiving extensions, said socket members selectively pivotablerearward and forward within the draw plane of the bow;

(c) limb members fxedly attachable to said limb-receiving socketmembers, said limb members movable within the draw plane of the bow inresponse t0 selective pivotal movement of said limb-receiving socketmembers; and

(d) lock means in association with said limb socketreceiving extensionsand said socket members, said lock means adapted to selectively locksaid socket members and said limbs in desired pivotal positions withinthe draw plane of the bow.

5. In a take-apart bow, the combination comprising:

(a) a central elongate limb retaining handle member, said handle memberprovided with limb receiving extensions at each end thereof;

(b) limbs pivotally connected to each end of said handle member, saidlimbs provided with bifurcated arm extensions at one end thereof formating engagement with said limb receiving extensions so as to permitrearward and forward pivotal movement of said limbs within the drawplane of said bow; and

(c) lock means in association with said handle member and said limbs,said lock means adapted to selectively lock said limbs in desiredpivotal positions within the draw plane of the bow.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/35 Nyvau 124-249/62 Perrucci ....124-24

1. IN A TAKE-APART BOW, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATE LIMBRETAINING HANDLE MEMBER; (B) LIMBS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OFSAID HANDLE MEMBER; AND (C) LOCK MEANS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAID HANDLEMEMBERS AND SAID LIMBS, SAID LOCK MEANS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY LOCK SAIDLIMBS IN DESIRED PIVOTAL POSITIONS WITHIN THE DRAW PLANE OF THE BOW SOAS TO SELECTIVELY VARY THE DRAW WEIGHT OF THE BOW.